Tuesday, March 21, 2006

THE FBI is in such a budget crunch that it can't afford to give email accounts to all agents and analysts. Some maintain outside accounts, "at their own expense" according to an agency spokesperson, and some have been given Blackberrys. I wonder when the flood of carpal tunnel syndrome claims willhit the agency from agents with bad thumbs? Seriously, it may not be secure as a dot-gov account, but I think you can get a GoDadddy account with 1000 email addresses for like, $20/month. What's next, abacus distribution at the Treasury Department?

This reminds me of my time at Reunion Records. The company had been bought by what is now Provident Music Group. I was in charge of developing the label's first-ever web site (1997 - we were behind the times). My position, however, did not grant me web access in the Provident hierarchy, only email capability. So at least 3-4 days a week I went across the street toa coffee shop and paid $6/hour for online access. After a couple weeks the CFO (!) of the company called me to ask why I had all of these charges at Bean Central. I explained and said that if I could just get access frommy desk the charges would stop.He replied that, "no, just keep doing what you're doing, and maybe cut back on a trip or two a week."

Thursday, March 02, 2006

THE McPASSION, a short film that imagines the ultimate movie tie-in. This one's only up during Lent, which seems appropriate. This isn't for the faint of heart, but I believe the satire does its job. Enjoy.